Machine for blocking horse-collars.



J. B. GATHRIGHT. MACHINE FOR BLOCKING HORSE OOLLARS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 4, 1906.

968,143. Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IIUIIIIIIHWI'IIIIIIIIH 1 wi meoaea 2 4 W a u 1:: Mann): FETIRS cm,WASHINGTON, n. c.

J. B. GATHRIGHT.

MACHINE FOB BLOCKING HORSE DOLLARS.

APPLICATION IILED D120. 4, 1906.

968,143. Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

a sums-sum z. 51

THE cams PETERS c0., WASHINGTON, n. c,

J. B. GATHRIGHT. MACHINE FOR BLOCKING HORSE GOLLARS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED DEC. 4, 1906.

968, 1 4:3. Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I w v amg JOSIAH B. GATHRIGI-IT, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

MACHINE FOR BLOCKING HORSE-COLLARS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSIAH B. GATHRIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentuckhave invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for BlockingHorse-Collars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in machines for blockingor forming horse collars, and in a general way its purpose may be statedto be to provide the same with certain new and useful features, wherebythe efficiency of the machine is materially increased.

The invention consists in certain peculiarities in the construction andarrangement of parts and in certain novel combinations of elementssubstantially as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out inthe subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a construction of machine forblocking or forming horse collars which exemplifies the several new anduseful features which I have introduced into such machines; and which,also, embodies what I at present regard as the best detail forms of theseveral parts of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is an end elevation of such machine,- showinga part of the block or former in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe machine. Fig. 3 1s a detail plan view of the table. F 1g. 4 1s adetail plan view of the groove-forming levers and their carrier. Fig. 5is a detail sectional view, showing the relation of the severalformer-members when subjecting the collar Z to its final pressure. Fig.6 is a detail view, partly in section, of the latch which holds inholding position the levers which support the drop frame and collarduring the initial movement. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional View of ameans, different from that shown in Fig. 1, for automatically varyingthe speed and power of the block. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of astill diflerent means for accomplishing the last named purpose.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in the severalviews.

Before entering upon a description of the details of construction of thepresent machine, I wish to state that it comprises a frame, A, ofconstruction appropriate to the mechanism employed and having a table ASpecification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 4, 190B.

Patented Aug. 23, 1910. Serial No. 346,288.

which is size and shape corresponding to the blockmember B of thecollarformer, which travels therethrough. This block member, as is notunusual in collar chinery, has a laterally-expanded top which forms aflange or head 6 adapting it to the shape to be given the collar. Aroundthe opening A in the table A is the die C, which forms the rim of thecollar. grooves in the collar, for the hames, are formed by a grooveforming member which preferably comprises arms or levers d, d, which arearranged at opposite sides of the block B and above the rim die C, andare pivoted at one end to a holding or carryingframe E and have theirother ends provided with means, which are also attached to said frame,for drawing them together in the formation of said grooves.

The relation of the parts is such that what may be referred to as aprimary or preliminary pressure operation in the formation of the collartakes place while the block and provided with an opening A of formingma- W The V the groove-forming members, with the collar in positionbetween the same, are out of operative relation with the rim-formingdie, whereby premature contact of the collar with the rim-forming die isprevented. This primary or preliminary operation may advantageously be,and is preferably, composed of the step incident to the adjustment ofthe collar, Z, the block B and the arms (Z, d into their relativeoperative positions, including such as are necessary to force the collarout to its full width by an initial pressure to which it is subjected bythe tapered block in an early stage of its downward travel. Upon thecompletion of this primary or preliminary operation on the collar, arelative movement of the parts which performed it (together with thecollar) and the rimforming die, takes place, whereby the collar is nowin operative relation with the rim-forming die as well as with the blockand groove-forming arms.

It is preferable, in the relative movement referred to, to move theblock-member B and the groove-forming member D, with the collar clampedbetween them, to the rimforming die C. A very desirable means, whichconstitutes one of the features of the present invention, for effectingsuch transfer of parts, comprises a drop frame, E (carrying the grooveformers) ,which is automatically moved from the initial to the finalforming positions under the control of the block-member B.

Having thus in a general way set forth some of the novel features of mypresent machine, I will now proceed 'more fully to describe the same andparticularly to set forth many novel and advantageous details ofconstruction which are embraced in the preferred form of my machine. Asuitable construction of frame A comprises a series of supporting legs 1which are connected with each other, and braced, at the sides of theframe by angle irons 2, and are further braced by a channel iron 3 whichis connected with said angle irons and serves the additional purpose ofa base support for a screw shaft 4. This shaft 4 operates to raise andlower-the block B. This block is connected with the shaft preferably ina peculiar manner which will be hereinafter set forth in detail. Asuitable operating means for said shaft comprises a bevel gear 5,arranged above a driving shaft 6 which is provided with a pulley 7 bywhich it receives its power from a suitable source. The shaft 6 is alsoprovided with bevel gears 8 which are adapted to transmit movement tosaid gear 5, one to drive the shaft 1 in one direction and the other todrive the samein the other direction and thus to cause the block B to beraised and lowered on said shaft. Foot levers 9 are provided with any ofthe usual or suitable gear-shifting connections, indicated generally at10, which connect the same with the respective gears 8 and shift saidgears into and out of mesh with said gear 5 when said levers aredepressed from and restored to their normal positions, respectively.

The form of the block B, constitutes one of the severally new featuresof my invention. As devised and preferred by me, it is of greatervertical length than the ordinary block and its lower port-ion b hastapering sides, while its upper portion 72 is of usual shape, (that isto say has approximately vertical or parallel sides) and constitutes thefinal outward pressure-exerting part of the block. As clearly indicatedin Fig. 2 the tapered portion of the block is of less height at thefront or throat end than at the rear or withers end of the block, theupper end of the tapered portion being represented by the line 1112which extends inclinatorily upward and rearward from the front to therear end of the block. The throat end of the block also preferably has aspecial inward inclination, :20, which extends to the bottom of theblock from a suitable place as as above the same.

Attention is called to the fact that owing to the special bevel as ofthe block B, the first action of this member in its movement downwardthrough the collar is to force the latter backward against thegroove'formers, and

scenes then, by reason of the fact that the tapering lowerportion of thesides of said block has its upper termination in a lower plane at thethroat end than at the withers end thereof, the pressure of grooveforming action of the block on the collar first takes place at thethroat or closed end of the collar and later, in the progressivemovement of the block, gradually reaches the withers, or open, por tionof the collar. By thus causing the descending block to first force outthe closed end of the collar against the groove formers, the formationof the groove is completed in detail with a minimum of power. The inwardbevel m, also facilitates the adjustment of the collar upon the block Band between the latter and the arms (Z (Z.

Another of the severally new features of the present detailconstruction, made possible by the before described construction of theblock B, consists in fixing against relative movement the fulcra orpivots 12 of the outer or withers ends of the groove forming arms, (Z,(Z. This avoids the necessity of employing means to adjust the withersends of the groove formers, and moreover has the further importantadvantage of enabling the inner edges of the groove formers to be sopositioned with respect to the block as to form perfect guides for themiddle seam grooves of the collar, thus materially assisting theattendant in the operation of positioning the collar on the block.

A desirable means for adjusting the heel or throat ends of the arms (Z,(Z, comprises a right and left threaded shaft 15 which is journaled insuitable bearings 16 on the drop frame E and is provided at one end witha suitable operating device, such as the wheel 17. Threaded upon theshaft 15 are slides 18 and 19 which move toward and from each other andtraverse and are guided by a slot 21 which extends transversely of theframe E.

The heels of the groove forming arms (Z, (Z, are pivoted to the uppersides of said slides, as shown at 22 and 23, and said pivots arepreferably arranged eccentric of the centers of the heels, and theconfronting edges of said heels are squared, whereby they are adapted tosquarely abut each other when the arms are closed together. A lug 24 isprovided to project over the abutting edges of said heels to hold thesedown while in contact with the collar, but is sufficiently narrow toleave the heels free when they are wide apart.

The rim die C, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5, is preferably made intwo parts, to wit, a base 25 and a cap or die 26 proper. The base partis preferably integral with the top plate or table A, from which it projects a suitable distance. The cap 26 is made of bronze in order that itmay not discolor the collar and is provided around its inner edge withan upwardly projecting bead 27 which forms a thin upper edge adapted toenter the space between the block and the rim of the collar and to forcethe latter outwardly, thus securing a desirable result not obtained byother blocking machines. The upper edge 27 of the die fits snuglyagainst the surface of the block, except at the open portion which is atthe open end of the collar. It will be observed that the face of thebead is of curvature corresponding to that of the rim, whereby therounded outlines of the rim is preserved and said rim formed free fromthe objectionable sharp ridge which byother machines are pressed outfrom it.

The drop frame E hereinbefore referred to is normally supported, at adistance above the rim die 0, upon a movable holding means which isadvantageously composed ofa series of rocking levers 30, arrangedbeneath the corners of said frame and pivotally supported, by means oftrunnions 31, journaled in re cesses 32 which are formed in the uppersurface of the table or plate A. These levers extend above and belowsaid table or frame A, through openings 33 formed in the latter, and thetrunnions 31 are preferably nearer their upper than their lower ends andare slightly eccentric to cause the levers to bend over from pressure,when released. The levers are connected with each other, forsimultaneous movement, at the sides of the machine bylongitudinally-extending connecting rods or bars 34 and at the front ofthe machine by a transversely extending rod or bar 35, and their lowerends are pivoted to said rods or bars. A latch, or other suitableholding means, 36, is pivoted at one end (37) to a suitable part of theframe of the machine and projects thence to a position beneath thecontiguous bar 35 which it is adapted to engage in order to hold thelevers 30 in their upright or holding position. To the end that thislatch may be operated at a predetermined time, to release the leversfrom its restraint to their movements from their holding posi trated,that before the block has acted upon the pin 38 to force the latch 35out of engagement with the rod 34, said block will have moved throughthe collar distance such that its tapering sides will have passedthrough the collar and its vertical sides have entered the collar andforced the same out to its full width against the groove-forming arms,(5, cl. When the latch has been thus released from the rod 35 the levers30 are free to turn forward on their eccentric pivots, so that furtherdownward movement of the block with the collar Z clamped thereon, willimpose pressure on the frame E causing said levers to turn and the frameand groove forming arms to descend with the block, thus carrying thecollar down to its position upon the die C, where it receives its finaland full pressure between said block,

' arms and die.

When the collar has been fully blocked, the block is elevated byreversing the movement of the shaft 1; the frame E is raised, preferablyby springs 10 mounted on bolts 41 which extend loosely through openingsin the ends of said frame; the eccentrically pivoted levers 30 resumetheir holdingposition, under the influence of gravity or suitablesprings; and the latch 36 is raised into engagement with the rod 35 by asuitable spring 12.

The block B is guided in its travel upon the shaft 1 by suitable meanswhich may desirably comprise a skeleton frame or spider 45, throughwhich the shaft 4 extends, having two of its arms 46 secured to the arms47 which fix it to the underside of the block B and its other two arms,48, provided with openings through which extend fixed guide rods 49.

5O designates a bridge piece in which the upper end of the shaft 4 isjournaled. This bridge supports the upper thrust of the shaft while theblock B is being driven down through and into the collar. A set screw 51takes up the wear on the end of said shaft.

Another of the advantageous features of my invention relates to meanswhereby different speeds of travel are given to the block B, causing itto move more slowly and with greater power during one portion of itstravel than in the other portion thereof. The parts which accomplishthis shifting of speed may be and preferably are so arranged that therapid movement of the block is throughout that portion of its travelbetween its upper limit and the place where its flange Z) begins itscontact with the collar at which time the final pressure commences.

For the purpose stated, in the forms illus trated, a speed shiftingsleeve, 60, is interposed between the shaft 1 and the block B. Thissleeve has its outer surface provided with threads of fine or low pitchwhich engage corresponding threads. on the interior of the block, whileits inner wall is formed with threads which are much coarser and ofhigher pitch than those on its outer surface and engage correspondingthreads on the shaft 4. Means are also provided forcausing the sleeveand block to reciprocate together during a portion of the travel of theblock and for stopping such reciproca tory movement of the sleeve withinthe limitsof the reciprocatory movement of the block, whereby as will bereadily understood the movement first referred to will be upon thecoarser threads and hence more rapidly than the movement second referredto, which latter will be of the block upon the fine and moreprwer-imparting threads of the sleeve. Difieient means for accomplishingthis may be employed, two such being shown in the accompanying drawings.Thus, in the form most clearly shown in Fig. 1, the flanged upper end 61of the sleeve is provided with a pin 62 which engages a detent lever 63which is pivoted to and projects from the top of the block B. \Vhen thispin and lever are engaged with each other, the sleeve and block arelocked against relative movement, whereby the movement is upon thecoarse and highly pitched threads of the shaft and inner wall of thesleeve. A desirable means for unlocking them comprises a chain or otherflexible connecting means 64 between the lever 63 and arelatively fi-Xedpart of the machine, such as the bridge piece 50, so adjusted .in lengththat it will be tightened when the block has reached the place at whichthe speed is to be shifted, and thus, by further ,movement of the parts,raising the lever out of engagement with the pin 62. Continued rotationof the shaft will now of course cause a continuance of the movement ofthe block, but it will be on the fine and low pitched threads of thesleeve, which latter now turns with theshaft. On the return movement thetravel will be on the fine thread until the pin 62 reaches and engagesthe detent lever 63 when the remainder of the upward movement will be onthe rapid shaft thread.

The foregoing means is adaptable to forms wherein the differentialbetween the two threads is such that the normal initial movement wouldotherwise be on the fine thread, between the sleeve and block. If, onthe other hand, the differential be such that the normal initialmovement would be on the shaft thread no detent would be needed.

I have found in practice, in a machine in which the differential in thepitch of the threads was about 25 per cent, that, contrary to what mightbe expected, the initial movement is not on the finer threads betweenthe sleeve and block but on the shaft thread, and in order to meet thiscondition and produce movement on thefiner threads I have devised meanswhich are illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, and embodies a device arrangedon the shaft in such relation to the sleeve as to stop its movement onthe shaft and to force movement of the block on the fine threads of thesleeve. This device is herein shown as an adjustable collar designated62 in Fig. 7 and 61 in Fig. 8 having a screw or other device for fixingit on the shaft 4 at the place where the change is to be made.

In the form shown in Fig. 7 the collar 61 is arranged to enter a socket61 formed on the lower end of the sleeve designated 60". The initialmovement being on the shaft, the block moves rapidly down on the threadsthereof until the socket 61 engages the collar 62 The sleeve is nowfixedly connected to the shaft and. no further downward movement of ittakes place, thus causing the remainder of the travel of the block to beon the sleeve. The socket 61 and the collar 62 form elements of afriction clutch. In the reverse movement of the shaft the frictionbetween the clutch elements causes the block to move upwardon the sleeveuntil its upper end contacts with the flanged upper end of the latter,whereupon the sleeve is caused to rise upon the shaft threads, carryingthe block with it.

'In the form shown in Fig. 8 the socket is omitted, and the downwardmovement of the sleeve, designated 60 upon the shaft is arrested and thesleeve forced to rot-ate with the shaft, by contact of the plane lowersurface of the sleeve with the upper surface only of the collar 61. Thisforces the block to move slowly and with great power downward upon thesleeve, in the step of giving the final pressure to the collar, as inthe other forms. hen the direction of rotation of the shaft is reversed,the sleeve 6O being free to rise ascends with the block (the movementbeing on the threads of the shaft) until it is again fixed to the shaft..For the latter purpose a lever 63 is loosely pivoted at one end to asplit collar 62 which is fixed to the shaft. This lever is arranged atthe place where the desired change is to occur and is adapted to engagea pin 64? which projects from the sleeve and therewith serves to lockthe sleeve to the shaft, so that the block will now travel on thesleeve. In its movement upward upon the sleeve, the block engages theend of the lever '63" and frees the latter from the pin 64?, so thatthe-sleeve is now free to descend on the shaft, with the block, when theshaft is moved to produce such travel of the sleeve.

From the foregoing the operation of the machine will readily beunderstood to be as follows :Vhen the parts are in the position shown inFig. 1, the collar is slid into position upon the frame E and astridethe block B, by the attendant the close proximity of the inside edges ofthe arms (Z, (Z of the groove former enabling them to serve as guideswhich materially assist the attendant in correctly positioning thecollar around the block and between the arms, this being as stated oneof the new features of my machine. The wheel 17 is then turned to adjustthe arms (5, d, toward each other on their pivots. l/Vhen the heels ofsaid and means whereby movable elements of arms have approached near toeach other, the right hand treadle 9 is depressed by the foot of theattendant, and the block B starts its movement through the collar duringthe final portion of the approaching movement of the arms (Z, (Z. Thegroove forming arms first reduces the width of the collar from thenormal by pressing it inward toward the block, this action beingpermitted by the relation of the block to said arms at this stage in theoperation, and, by reason of its peculiar shape, the first action of theblock is to force the collar backward against said arms, then outward toits full or normal width, and afterward, when its tapered part haspassed through the collar, it strikes the pin 38 and depresses the catch86, thus releasing the bar 35 and permitting the levers 30 to rock. Themotion downward of the block being continued, the frame E is loweredwith it, until the collar rests on the rim C. Up to this time the motionof the block has been a rapid one, but is now varied to a slow andpowerful pressure and continued until the collar is under full pressure.hen the collar has remained under such pressure for the desired lengthof time, the left hand treadle 9 is depressed, thus shifting the gear 8cont-rolled by it into engagement with the gear 5, it being of courseunderstood that the other gear 8 has meanwhile been adjusted out ofengagement with the gear The block is thereby elevated to its originalposition, releasing the pressure on the frame E and permitting theframe-to be raised by its springs 40, thereby also releasing pressure onthe levers 30 which turn to their vertical position with the upwardmovement of the frame, and also releasing pressure on the latch 36 whichis caused by its spring 42 to follow such rising movement and reongagethe bar 85. During the upward movement of the block B a reverse turn isgiven the wheel 17 whereby the heels of the arms (Z, (Z recede from eachother and the collar is released from said arms and may now be taken outof the machine.

The speed changing mechanism shown is not essential to the good workingof my invention as the shaft 4, working on a fixed threaded sleeve inthe block, does excellent and speedy work, without any adaptation forchange of speed.

It will, of course, be understood that the terms backward, rearwardvertical etc. used herein are employed in a relative sense and notrestrictively.

Having thus described the invention what I believe to be new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising relatively movablecompression devices adapted to subject the collar to primary andsubsequent pressure operations,

said compression devices and the collar are transferred from the placeof the primary pressure operation to the place of the subse quentpressure operation.

2. A machine for blocking horse collars, having compression devicesadapted to hold the collar in a clamped relation, a compression elementadapted to cooperate with said devices in subjecting the collar tocompression and means whereby said compression devices and the collarare moved to bring the collar into operative relation with saidcompression element.

3. In a machine for blocking horse collars, means for subjecting thecollar successively to primary and full pressure operations, comprisinga block having means adapted to subject the collar to a preliminaryoutward pressure to force it to full width, a compression element whichis free from pressure-exerting engagement with the collar during suchpreliminary-pressure op eration, and cooperates with the block in thesubjecting of the collar to the final pressure, and means for holdingthe collar against the block.

4. In a machine for blocking horse collars, means for subjecting thecollar successively to primary and full pressure operations, comprisinga block having means adapted to subject the collar to a preliminaryoutward pressure to force it to full width, a compression element whichis free from pressure-exerting engagement with the collar during suchpreliminary-pressure operation and cooperates with the block in thesubjecting of the collar to the final pressure, and a groove-formingelement whichis operatively engaged with the collar during both of thepressure operations.

5. In a machine for blocking horse collars, a former having meanswhereby it subjects the collar to a preliminary pressure first inwardand then outward to full width and finally to full pressure, said meanscomprising a member for pressing the collar inward, a block having meansfor subjecting the collar to a preliminary pressure outward to fullwidth against said member, and a compression element which is free frompressure-exerting engagement with the collar during said inward andoutward pressure operations and cooperates with said member and block insubjecting the collar to final full pressure.

6. In a machine for blocking horse collars, a block which is movablethrough the collar and is adapted in an early stage of its movement topreliminarily press the collar outward to full width and has a lateralexiio tension, a groove former which is operas and rim die both freefrom pressure-exerting engagement with the collar during the preliminarypressure thereon and cooperat ing with the body of the block andgrooveformer for subjecting the collar to full pressure.

7. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a groove former,means for moving the groove former to subject the collar to inwardpressure, a block engaged with the collar during such pressure, saidblock adapted to move in the collar andsubj ectthe same internally tooutward pressure first rearward and then outward to full width againstthe groove former, and rim pressing means cooperating with the block andgroove-former for giving shape to the colla}.

8. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a block adapted tosubject the collar to a preliminary outward pressure, a groove formingelement operatively engaged with the collar during the exertion of saidpressure, means adapted to cooperate with the block and groove-formingelement in subjecting the collar to a subsequenbfull pressure, andmechanism whereby relative movement between said means and the collar isautomatically effected for such full pressure.

9. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a block which ismovable through the collar and is adapted in an early stage of suchmovement to preliminarily press the collar outward approximately to itsfull width, means cooperating with said block for subjecting the collarto full pressure, and means whereby the collar is moved from its placeof the preliminary pressure to that of the full pressure.

10. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a block which ismovable through the collar and is adapted in an early stage of suchmovement to preliminarily press the collar outward approximately to itsfull width, a groove-former which is operatively engaged with and holdsthe collar during the exertion of such preliminary pressure of theblock, means 00- operating with said block and groove-former forsubjecting the collar to full pressure, and means whereby the collar,and grooveformer are moved from the place of the preliminary pressure tothat of the full pressure.

11. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a block which ismovable through the collar and is adapted in an early stage of suchmovement to preliminarily press the collar outward approximately to itsfull width, a groove-former which is operatively engaged with and holdsthe collar during the exertion of such preliminary pressure of theblock, a rim die and a lateral extension from the body of the block bothfree from pressure exerting engagement with the collar during suchpreliminary pressure thereon and adapted to cooperate with the body ofsaid block and groove-former for subjecting the collar to full pressure,and means whereby the collar and groove-former are moved from the placeof the preliminary pressure to that of the full pressure.

12. A machine for blocking horse collars, having a former comprised of ablock, and a groove-forming member, said block mounted to move in thecollar and having means whereby in its movement it forces the collarfirst rearward and then outward to full width against the groove-formingmember.

13. In a machine for blocking horse collars, a block movable through thecollar, a groove-former having elements movable toward the block intoclamping engagement with the collar, said block and grooveformercooperating to cause the collar to be reduced in width below its normalin the clamping movement of said elements and said block adapted in anearly stage of its movement to press the collar outward against saidelements approximately to its full width, and means cooperating with theblock and groove-former for subsequently subjecting the collar to fullpressure.

14. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising, in combinationwith a rim forming member and a grooveforming means, a block which ismovable relatively to the groove-forming means, and against which thecollar is held by the latter, and means adapted to move thegroove-forming means and collar with the block and relatively to therim-forming means at a predetermined time in the movement of the block.

15. In a machine for blocking horse collars, a former having a rimmember, a groove former and a block movable relatively to the grooveformer and rim member and having a. portion adapted to subject thecollar to a primary pressure outward against the groove former in onestage of the movement of the block and a portion which later cooperateswith the rim member and groove-former in giving full pressure to thecollar, and means for producing relative movement between thegroove-former and block and the rim member at the con clusion of theprimary pressure to subject the collar to full pressure.

16. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a movable block, arim forming member and a groove-forming member, said groove-formingmember movable toward the rim-forming member, and means for restrainingsuch movement of the groove-torming member until the block has reached apredetermined place in its travel.

17. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a groove-formingmember and a rim-forming member, movable bodily relatively to eachother, a block movable relatively to both of said members, and means forholding said members against relative movement, and means operated at apredetermined time in the movement of the block to permit such relativemovement of the groove forming and rim forming members.

18. A machine for blocking horse collars having its former comprised ofrelativelymovable parts for subjecting the collar internally to outwardpressure and its rim to pressure, respectively, and a groove formingmember movable with the collar toward and from one of such parts, incombination with supporting means for the groove-forming member having aholding means arranged to be operated to permit the groove formingmember to move at-a predetermined time in the relative movement of saidrelatively movable parts.

19. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a movable block, arim die, a grooveformer movable toward and from said die, and supportingmeans for the groove-former, comprising a drop frame, and means forholding said frame against movement toward the rim die until apredetermined time in the movement of the block.

20. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a movable block, arim die, a groove-former movable toward and from said die, andsupporting means for the groove-former, comprising a drop frame, pivotedsupporting levers for said frame and means for holding said leveragainst movement until a predetermined time in the movement of theblock.

21. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a movable block, arim die, a groove-former movable toward and from said die, andsupporting means for the groove-former, comprising a drop frame, pivotedsupporting levers for said frame and means for holding said leversagainst movement until a predetermined time in the movement of theblock, said means comprising a movable holding device having aprojection extending into the path of the block.

22. A machine for blocking horse collars comprising a movable block, arim die, a groove-forming member and supporting means for thegroove-forming member, movable toward and from the die.

23. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a movable block, arim die, a groove forming member, and supporting means therefor movabletoward and from said die, having a holding device arranged in the pathof said block.

24. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a movable block, a.rim die, a groove former and supporting means for the groove formermovable toward and from said die and provided with means controlled bysaid block for restraining its movement until a predetermined time inthe movement of the block.

25. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a movable block, arim die and a groove forming means movable toward and from the die andprovided with a holding device controlled by movement of the block.

26. A means for blocking horse collars, comprising a block the lowerportion of the front edge of which is inwardly inclined with relation tothe contiguous part of said edge and is so disposed that it will actupon the collar, substantially in the manner and for the purposespecified.

27. A means for blocking horse collars, comprising a block havingportions to act upon the collar successively, the first-operating ofsaid portions having tapering sides and the other having approximatelyparallel sides.

28. A means for blocking horse collars, comprising ablock havingportionsto operate on the collar successively, said portions formed respectivelywith tapering and approximately vertical sides, said tapering sidehaving its upper line or terminal in clined from one toward theother endof the block.

29. A means for blocking horse collars, comprising a block which ismounted to move through the collar and is formed with a tapered portionthe upper line or terminal of which is inclined.

30. A means for blocking horse collars, comprising a block formed with atapered portion the upper line or terminal of which is inclined and withapproximately vertical sides above the tapering portion, means wherebythe block is moved through the collar and means for holding the collaragainst the block and forming. the grooves therein.

31. In a collar blocking machine, a block and a pair of groove formingarms fixedly pivoted against longitudinal movement at the withers end ofthe block and positioned relatively to the block to form guides for themiddle seam groove of the collar.

32. In a collar blocking machine the combination of a block and a grooveforming member contiguous thereto and through which said block isadapted to move, said block having a special inward bevel at the loweredge of its throat forming portion and initially so related to thegroove-forming member that said bevel provides a clearance space betweenthis portion of the block and the groove forming'memben- 33. In a collarbloc-king machine, the combination of a block having an inward bevel atits throat end, and a pair of groove forming arms fixedly pivotedagainst longitudinal movement at the withers end of the block andpositioned relatively to the block to form guides for the middle seamgroove of the collar, said block mounted to move between said arms andinitially so related to the arms that its beveled portion will becontiguous to the latter.

34. In a collar blocking machine, the combination of a movable block andgroove forming arms arranged to embrace the block and clamp the collaragainst the same, said arms fixedly pivoted against longitudinalmovement at the withers end of the block and having adjusting means atthe other end of the block, and said block having at the lower portionof its throat end a special inward bevel which in the initial positionof the block is contiguous to the arms, and also comprising a taperedlower portion the upper line or terminal of which is inclined and aportion having approximately vertical sides above the tapered portion,and being mounted to move relatively to said member to bring saidportions successively into operation on the collar.

35. In a machine for blocking horse collars, a block, a pair ofgroove-forming arms arranged to embrace the block, and means wherebysaid arms are adjusted toward and from each other and relatively to theblock, comprising slides to which the throat end of each arm is pivoted,means for adjusting the slides toward and from each other, and pivotsfor the withers end of each .of the arms fixed against longitudinalmovement.

36. In a machine for blocking horse collars, a block, a pair ofgroove-forming arms, each pivoted at the withers end and having itsother end formed to contact closely one with another, a slide to whichthe latter end of each arm is pivoted off the center of said vend, andmeans for adjusting the slides toward and from each other.

37. In a collar blocking machine, a block having a body and a flangearranged successively to exert pressure on the collar, and means forproducing relative movement between the collar and the block, includinginstrumentalities whereby the movement is changed to one of greaterpower and less speed when the flanged portion of the collar is inaction.

38. In a machine for blocking horse collars, means for subjecting thecollar successively to preliminary and final compression operations,having elements for producing relative movement between the parts fortheir successive pressures and means whereby the movement during thefinal pressure is one of less speed and greater power than during thepreliminary pressure.

39. In a machine for blocking horse collars, an internally threadedblock, having a flange, means for holding the collar to be blocked, andmeans for moving the body of the vblock through the collar and theflange into pressure-exerting engagement upon the collar, comprising athreaded shaft, a sleeve having external power-imparting threads engagedwith the block and internal speedimparting threads engaged with theshaft, and means whereby the sleeve is caused to travel with the blockuntil the flange is brought into engagement with the collar and itstraveling movement is then stopped to cause the block to travel upon it.

40' In a machine for blocking horse collars, a sleeve havingdiflerential threads upon its interior and exterior, a threaded shaftupon which said sleeve is adapted to travel, a block engaging theexternal threads of the sleeve, said block having means for successivelysubjecting the collar to preliminary and final pressure operations,means for automatically determining the traveling movement of the sleeveupon the shaft upon the completion of the preliminary pressure, andmeans cooperating with the block for giving form to the collar duringsuch pressures.

41. In a machine for blocking horse collars, a block formed topreliminarily press the collar outward to full width, a groove forming amember, and rim die and a lateral extension from the block cooperativelyact-- ing upon the collar upon the completion of the preliminarypressure operation, and means for producing relative movement betweenthe parts, including elements whereby the movement is more powerful whenthe rim die and lateral extension are acting than during the preliminarypressure.

42. A machine for blocking horse collars, comprising a former having ablock adapted to subject the collars internally to a preliminarypressure outward to force it to full or normal size, and meanscooperating with the block for subsequently subjecting the collar tofull pressure, having a compression element which is free frompressure-exerting engagement with the collar during the preliminarypressure operation, and means whereby the power is automaticallyincreased for said full pressure.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSIAH B. GATHRIGHT.

Vitnesses R. M. KILLGoRE,

F. C. MOORE.

